How to Make a Butterfly House for Kids
With their beautiful colors and intricate patterns on the wings, butterflies attract both the young and old. Kids are especially fantasized by them and many spend hours observing them or trying to catch them. For kids, it is an education hobby to keep butterflies. The transformation from caterpillars to beautiful butterflies is an interesting one that your kids should not miss. They can keep their butterflies in a simple house built for this purpose. It can be prepared using materials available around the house and the activity can be turned into a craft project with the kids.
Things Required:
– Muslin
– Large cardboard box with lid
– Scissors
– Craft knife
– Duct tape
– Twig
– Cane sugar
– Water
– Pan
– Sponge
– Saucer
Instructions
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1
Take measurements of the front and back side of the card board box and translate these on the muslin cloth. Now cut the cloth according to these measurements.
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2
Use the scissor and cutter to cut panels on the front and sides of the box. These panels should be cut in a way that there is a margin of at least two inches from the last panel to the edge of the box.
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3
Now attach the muslin cloth you cut to the front and sides of the box. The margin you left earlier will help you attach the cloth to the box firmly. The muslin allows to peep through the box to have a look at the butterflies. You can also used a screen for the same purpose.
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4
Cut out a door for the butterfly house. Make a square on one side of it which is uncovered by the muslin. Cut three sides of the door and leave the fourth uncut. This fourth uncut side will cut as the hinge and allow you to make small changes in the house.
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5
Place a wooden twig inside the box. The butterflies will use it as a perch. Make a sugar solution by warming sugar in water in a pan over the heat. Now absorb this solution in a kitchen sponge and place it inside a saucer. Place it inside the box for the butterflies.
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6
You can customize the box by painting with the kid's favorite color. Take out butterfly prints from the internet and stick to the box. Let the kids help with the decor.